Show Notes
www.johnandsarah.ie This week: We talk about THAT ad, a story John broke on Wednesday. Also, the Tusla Scandal that should bring down the Government. The Triple Lock unlocked. Sinn Fein Charity woes. And Fine Gael at War.00:00 - Opening the week’s big stories and the “don’t hug your granny” backlash 02:49 - Why the consent ad used grandparents and why that annoyed so many people 04:54 - The “family A, family B” style of cultural signalling in the ad 07:58 - Why the campaign went viral and drew international disbelief 08:26 - Consent in family life versus state-funded messaging 09:52 - Why the hosts say the ad conflates hugging with sexual consent 11:09 - Sarah’s argument: the state should not dictate family conversations 13:18 - The Irishness, class tone, and age-based disrespect in the ad 14:27 - A separate taxpayer-funded trans video and the argument over mockery 16:45 - Why the hosts see the ad as part of a wider sneering attitude to older Irish men 21:09 - The Tusla case: a 14-year-old girl allegedly being sexually exploited 22:06 - Special care, staffing shortages, and why Tusla says it cannot place her 23:32 - The judge’s intervention and the failure of political urgency 25:41 - Why Sarah says priorities in the state have become badly distorted 28:22 - Why John says Tusla is not being overseen properly by the responsible minister 29:17 - The old expectation that ministers resign for major failures 30:59 - Why this case would once have been a national scandal 32:03 - The minimum standard the state should meet for children in care 35:37 - What the triple lock is and why the Dáil vote matters 36:42 - Sarah’s concerns about broken promises and government trust 38:04 - John’s case for letting elected governments make foreign policy decisions 41:32 - Neutrality, public sentiment, and why the issue is politically complicated 44:06 - Mission creep, referendum promises, and why voters distrust politicians 45:16 - Why John thinks the triple lock debate is partly theoretical for Ireland’s current military capacity
More from Something Different with John and Sarah
www.johnandsarah.ie Strikes shut down the country; Drug gangs burn children alive; Ministers are hospitalised, and the Dáil debates.... Non Binary Rights? In this episode we ask a simple question: Has the state lost control?
www.johnandsarah.ie With John away following the death of his father, Sarah is joined by her husband Keith Redmond for a lively discussion of Ireland's miserable budget, the rising cost of employing people, the political capture of our institutions, and why The Guardian thinks exercise turns you right-wing. 00:00 Introduction and episode overview 00:42 Analysis of the Irish budget and its impact on cost of living 03:19 Discussion on minimum wage and its economic effects 09:00 The influence of government spending and taxes on inflation 17:13The political landscape and the march through institutions 29:56 The European Parliament's Trump statue controversy 50:00 Gender dysphoria treatments for minors and legal challenges 54:09 The Guardian article on exercise and political ideology 56:57 The anniversary of October 7th and its implications 01:00:12 Conclusion and final thoughts
www.johnandsarah.ie This week: Spiders Terrorise Malahide Woman; Emergency booklets from Helen McEntee; Tusla disaster courtesy of Norma Foley; and Garvaghy Road madness courtesy of... Sinn Fein? The Sports Journos go Feral; and an American Woman is killed twice, but lives..... 00:00 Introduction and Weekly Recap 00.20 Spider Season 04:21 Discussion of the 'Be Emergency Ready' Book 08:12 Government Spending and Waste 12:12 Case Study: Child Abuse and Tusla Failures 14:12 Political Responsibility and Ministerial Accountability 19:51 Systemic Failures in Irish Health and Care Systems 21:53 Community and Parades Disputes in Northern Ireland 29:59 The Role of Media and Public Opinion in Politics 36:01 The Politics of Community Relations and Parades 42:48 Historical Context of Northern Ireland Parades 49:57 The US Justice System and Death Penalty Cases 56:55 Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts
www.johnandsarah.ieThis week: Ireland's young people hate life in Ireland, objecting to housing shortages, joblessness, and lots more. We discuss in depth. Also: Ebun Joseph fixes your school; Nick Delehanty closes his business; Holly Cairns gets maternity leave for some reason, and have you heard about the Lesbians in America?00:00 - Episode intro and the week’s big topics02:07 - Why so many young people want to leave Ireland04:16 - Policy choices, housing, and the “liberal progressive society” argument07:47 - The emotional and social cost of young adults being stuck at home10:50 - Why the crisis is bigger than a mood and harder to fix politically14:33 - How collapsed nightlife feeds loneliness and weaker dating culture18:03 - The lockdown effect on teenage social development20:02 - What government could do now, from policing to city-centre culture22:23 - Why fewer risks and fewer nights out change how young people grow up24:51 - Why some people leave temporarily and still plan to come back26:55 - David Higgins and the “milestone recession”28:34 - Nick Delahanty’s business closure and the Irish Times reaction30:09 - The reality of starting and running a small business in Ireland36:02 - Labour’s miscarriage leave proposal and the cost to employers41:41 - Holly Cairns, maternity leave, and political virtue signalling45:32 - Exclusive: the Convention on Education agenda in Sligo47:35 - Who gets to define school culture54:32 - Sunny Hostin and the shocking murder trial anecdote59:03 - A wider point about imported culture-war insanity62:30 - Wrap-up and closing remarks
Sarah's Boob Article: https://www.johnandsarah.ie/p/sarah-ryan-feminists-are-making-tits This week: The Scandalous Dublin Housing numbers and what to do about them. Also: Trump visits, Ed Sheeran gets cancelled, an athlete poops her pants, and lots of Sydney Sweeney chat. 00:00 - Intro 01:06 - Listener comment about economics versus wider social issues 02:56 - Why Trump’s Ireland visit landed as “non-eventful” 06:24 - Dublin housing list data and the scale of non-Irish applicants 10:32 - Should Irish citizens be prioritised on council housing lists? 15:05 - Opposition parties and the need for a radical housing message 18:21 - Tóibín, abortion, and the three-day waiting period 20:57 - The case for a cooling-off period before abortion 24:22 - Sydney Sweeney ad controversy and the “choice” argument 27:25 - Eroticism, explicit content, and why Sweeney stands out 32:32 - Athlete controversy after finishing while pooping 37:38 - Ed Sheeran, McLemore, and political litmus tests in music 40:42 - Why saying the slogan matters more than what people believe 46:54 - Michael Healy-Rae assaulted and the issue of political violence 52:02 - Dublin city centre disorder and public safety concerns 57:35 - Mary Lou McDonald’s makeover and closing reflections